Two days ago the state PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar announced a floating scheme under which the PWD would provide water tanks to people. However, this announcement has raked up a controversy as this was the same scheme which Congress had announced when present Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao was the PWD Minister and BJP had objected the scheme claiming it to be a scam.
With Dhavalikar trying to implement the same scheme that was announced and implemented in the past, Herald came across a PWD site where over 1000 water tanks that were procured some six years ago by the then Congress government have been lying idle at PWD’s main distribution reservoir at Consua hill. Inquiry with the officials of PWD revealed that these water tanks were procured from a factory located at Verna IDC after the then Cortalim MLA Mauvin Godinho placed his request for water tanks to be distributed to the people of Cortalim.
“Fulfilling the request we procured some 1000 water tanks of 500 litres each and the same are now lying unused at our premises atop Consua hill since the same cannot be distributed due to inquiry initiated by the government. Now the question that is yet to be answered is whether under the new proposed scheme these water tanks in stock will be distributed to the people or Dhavalikar will float a new tender as a part of his new proposed scheme,” a PWD official told Herald under condition of anonymity.
Meanwhile since last six years, these water tanks are lying idle in the open and are subjected to various climatic conditions which will lead to weakening of the plastic and its durability besides other damages if not distributed to the needy people.
Interestingly PWD officials from Vasco have acknowledged the fact that these water tanks are need of the hour for the residents of Mormugao Taluka due to the topographical condition and restricted supply of PWD water, while others have 24×7 supply of water.
“If these water tanks are distributed then it will not only help the people to store water, but will also assist the PWD to reduce complaints from those living in the hilly areas,” said PWD Assistant Engineer(water division Vasco) Vishwambhar Bhende.
He further added that, “At present, our supply timings to Mormugao Taluka are less. We give potable water which is sufficient for whole day. However, many people don’t have capacity to store water, so if these tanks lying in the open are distributed then it will be a blessing for citizens of Mormugao Taluka.
“Also as per our records several applications seeking benefit of water tanks are pending due to the inquiry initiated by the government. If government gives us directions then we will immediately start distribution of these tanks to the people living in all four constituencies of Mormugao taluka,” Bhende added.
Whether the PWD will issue orders to distribute these water tanks to the citizens or not, only time will tell but serious questions are now also being raised in different quarters whether Dhavalikar will distribute the same water tanks to save the public exchequer or float fresh tenders at the cost of public exchequer. It is to be also seen whether Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar will justify the new move of his PWD Minister in the current coalition government since while in the Opposition he had raised objections and stated that it was a scam.
Citizens, however, demand that the water tanks should be distributed before the same get damaged or destroyed.
“How a scheme that was tagged as scam in the past suddenly became a public oriented is surprising. Nevertheless there are several households in Mormugao, especially those located in slums, who don’t have proper water storage facilities. Hence instead of wasting public money by keeping water tanks unused and idle, the PWD should immediately issue instructions to provide them to the needy,” said Sandeep Patel, a Dabolim-based social worker.
